Blakeley's Budget Battle

Park rangers gather wood for a Saturday night bon fire--it's one of a number of events planned at this historic site with budget cuts being felt.

“We are struggling along right now this month, we're making it through October, we've been busy,” says park director JoAnn Flirt.  As of October first the park lost state funding--last year that made up 40% of their budget.  Administrators hope a combination of grant writing and stepped up fundraising fills the gap.

“The public has been very supportive, elected officials have been very supportive, all we lack are cash dollars,” says Flirt.  Money has still been coming in with campers taking advantage of nice weather--but park officials hope no one takes advantage of them.  Officials say they had a recent illegal deer killing, despite budget cuts Blakeley still falls under conservation laws.

“It's still protected, there's no hunting no metal detecting what so ever and we'll do everything to make sure that doesn't happen,” says Park Superintendent Josh Timmons.  Park officials can't say how long they can stay open without grant funding or state dollars--it can be done.  The park was open five years before establishing itself as a state agency.

There will be a Halloween Campout for campers staying at Blakeley Saturday in primitive campground.  It starts after dark.